Within the faculty of Science and Technology (S&T), the department of Biomaterials Science and Technology and chair of Bioartificial organs (BAO), we are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Assistant Professor (f/m) in ‘Organ Bioengineering’.

The chair of Bioartificial organs (BAO)

In the coming years, due to the aging of the population and the low availability of donor organs there is urgent need for bioengineering solutions to assist, mimic or replace failing patient organs.

The BAO chair has the ambition, to take-on the challenge of helping the patients by developing (bio)artificial organs. These organs would be:

Artificial: based on new biomaterials and novel designs, to assist or mimic a patient organ. Typical examples here are: (i) artificial kidney devices for better and more continuous patient treatment – including portable and implantable kidney devices (ii) new artificial liver devices for blood detoxification using novel sorbents, (iii) artificial lung for treating chronic and lung acute diseases.

Bioartificial: combining biomaterials and biological cells to fully replace failing patient organs. Typical examples here are: (i) bioartificial kidney devices, combining biomaterials and kidney epithelial cells for improved blood detoxification (ii) bioartificial pancreas devices, combining encapsulation of pancreatic cells for treatment of diabetes (iii) bioartificial lungs for studying lung regeneration.

In this field of research, the challenges are big. There is need: for new concepts and designs; new biomaterials; for better understanding of the biomaterial – cell / tissue interaction and tailoring of mass transfer. The complexity increases from artificial to bioartificial organs, and the engineering and regulatory demands increase further if these organs would be extracorporeal or implantable.

Activities

You are expected to develop and explore your own research profile within the BAO chair. You will supervise bachelor, master and PhD students and publish articles in prominent peer-reviewed scientific journals. You will apply for personal grants and will contribute to acquiring other national and international grants. You will contribute to the teaching duties of the BAO chair in the Biomedical Engineering and Technical Medicine curricula. You will build and maintain a network of academic and industrial contacts.

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with a doctoral degree in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, biomaterials science, or related fields.

• You have several years of (international) experience in the academic or industrial environment, with a proven track record of high-quality research and producing scientific publications and patents.
• You have a proven track record in obtaining research grants.
• You have demonstrated that you can supervise, and coach students and researchers and you are capable of collaborating in an international context.
• You are an enthusiastic and highly motivated lecturer and are able to contribute to the teaching duties of the BAO chair in the Biomedical Engineering and Technical Medicine studies. 
• You have excellent theoretical-, experimental- and writing skills. Fluent command of English is required.
• You will work in a challenging multidisciplinary environment. It is therefore essential to show willingness to look beyond disciplinary boundaries.

This position is offered for a period of 2 years with the possibility for continuation afterwards. Salary and conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement (CAO) of the Dutch Universities and include:

• Depending on the entry level a starting salary for assistant professor from € 3.746 (scale 11) to € 5.826 (scale 12) gross per month (for a fulltime position), based on relevant work experience.
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• A minimum of 29 leave days in case of fulltime employment.
• Professional and personal development programs.
• A solid pension scheme.